Newcomers to southern California

[gmat740]

Newcomers to southern California are surprised to discover that, in spite of the temperate climate, heating bills are as high, or higher than, those in most Midwestern or eastern cities.
(A) as high, or higher than, those in
(B) as high, or higher than,
(C) as high as, or higher than,
(D) at least as high as those in
(E) no lower than


[spoiler]IMO-C
OA-D[/spoiler]

[goelmohit2002]

IMO C all can be kicked out because of redundancy....as high as + higher than = atleast as high as.....

A, B = kicked out because they violate idiom.

[gmat740]

what you have to say about D?

does it change the meaning?

[sands_of_time]

Whenever you see a comparison question, ask yourself: Is this statement comparing Apples to Oranges ?
Now, here (b) , (c) and (e) are comparing heating bills in California to Midwestern/eastern cities(and not the bills in Midwestern/eastern cities). So, these are out. Out of (a) and (d), (d) is more concise and conveys the meaning flawlessly.

[rahulg83]

Newcomers to southern California are surprised to discover that, in spite of the temperate climate, heating bills are as high, or higher than, those in most Midwestern or eastern cities.
(A) as high, or higher than, those in
(B) as high, or higher than,
(C) as high as, or higher than,
(D) at least as high as those in
(E) no lower than


[spoiler]IMO-C
OA-D[/spoiler]

B, C and E are out due to faulty comparison..
A is awkward, wrong idiomatic usage
This leaves us with D

[Domnu]

Here's another way to look at this:

Eliminate B, C, E, because heating bills cannot be compared to Midwestern or eastern cities.

Eliminate A, because the idiom is 'as high as.'

Our answer is therefore, B.

[maihuna]

C is having two issues: as high or higher than vs at least as high

then in C heating balls cant be compared with most Midwestern or eastern cities. The those in D is referring to heating balls in most Midwestern or easter cities...